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Is Your Baby Safe at Home?
Part 3 - Falls


Lesia Oesterreich, M.S.
Family Life Extension Specialist
Human Development and Family Studies
Iowa State University

Copyright/Access Information


Babies are natural explorers. Some are "stand-uppers," some are climbers, and some are rollers. They reach, they lean, they climb, and they fall. Some of their falls can be very serious. You can help prevent falls by watching out for some of these danger spots ...

Never leave your child alone.


Be sure that you...

KNOW where the baby is every minute.

PUT gates at top and bottom of stairs the baby might climb.

KEEP toys and other items off the stairs and out of pathways.

REPLACE screens that fit loosely in windows, or that are torn or rusted.

PUT screening over porch railings.

USE a car seat especially designed for the size of the baby.

PREPARE for the day when the baby can roll off the table, crawl off the bed, stand up in the carriage or high chair, climb out of the crib. It may not be today - but it might be tomorrow!

USE seat straps on high chairs.

LOWER crib mattresses when baby begins to stand.

REMOVE or block furniture that can be climbed easily.

PUT plastic guards on furniture with sharp corners.

COVER exposed edges of fireplace hearths with pillows, towels, or blankets.

USE a plastic safety mat in the bathtub.


Content used with permission from the University of Vermont.



DOCUMENT USE/COPYRIGHT
National Network for Child Care - NNCC. Part of CYFERNET, the National Extension Service Children Youth and Family Educational Research Network. Permission is granted to reproduce these materials in whole or in part for educational purposes only(not for profit beyond the cost of reproduction) provided that the author and Network receive acknowledgment and this notice is included:

Reprinted with permission from National Network for Child Care - NNCC.
Oesterreich, L. (1995). Is your baby safe at home? Falls [Pm-954c]. Ames, IA: Iowa State University Extension.


Any additions or changes to these materials must be preapproved by the author.

AVAILABLE FROM::
Extension Distribution Center
119 Printing and Publications Bldg.
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011
PHONE:: (515) 294-5247
FAX:: (515) 294-2945
E-MAIL:: pubdist@iastate.edu

COPYRIGHT PERMISSION ACCESS
Lesia Oesterreich
1086 Lebaron Hall
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-4380
PHONE:: (515) 294-0363
FAX:: (515) 294-5507
E-MAIL:: loesterr@iastate.edu


FORMAT AVAILABLE:: Print - 2 pages
DOCUMENT REVIEW:: Level 2 - Iowa State University Extension
DOCUMENT SIZE:: 27 K
ENTRY DATE:: May 1998

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